The Use of Some Polyphenols in the Modulation of Muscle Damage and Inflammation Induced by Physical Exercise: A Review
Foods · 4 authors, 4 centres
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FIDELITY 90%
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This narrative review synthesizes literature on how specific polyphenol supplements (cocoa flavonols, anthocyanins, green tea catechins, curcumin, quercetin, and resveratrol) may influence muscle damage, inflammation, and recovery following exercise. The main finding is that some polyphenols show potential to reduce markers of oxidative stress, muscle injury (e.g., creatine kinase), and pro-inflammatory cytokines, but results are inconsistent and depend on factors like dose, form, and exercise type. A key limitation is the heterogeneity of study designs and the difficulty in isolating effects from the complex food matrix.
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1,472 CHARS
Physical exercise induces muscle damage and an inflammatory response crucial for adaptation but can impair performance if excessive. This narrative review examines evidence on whether supplementation with specific polyphenols can modulate this process. The reviewed studies, primarily in human participants, investigate outcomes like muscle damage markers (e.g., creatine kinase - CK), inflammation (e.g., interleukin-6 - IL-6), oxidative stress, and recovery. Key results indicate varied effects: cocoa flavonols may improve antioxidant capacity and reduce CK in some contexts but could inhibit adaptation with chronic use; anthocyanins from cherry juice showed mixed effects on muscle soreness and CK; green tea catechins demonstrated reductions in CK and oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde; curcumin supplementation was associated with decreased CK, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and pain scores; quercetin showed reductions in CK, LDH, and IL-6; resveratrol from grape juice reduced oxidative stress but also lowered antioxidant enzyme activity. Limitations include heterogeneity in exercise protocols, polyphenol doses, supplementation duration, and outcome measurement times. The implications are that while polyphenols show promise for attenuating exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation, evidence is inconsistent, and their net effect on long-term adaptation requires further research, especially regarding synergistic effects within whole foods.
